It’s been 13 days since the last time the world saw Argentina play at this years World Cup. They come up against a high flying Samoan team who are looking to make it 2 wins from 2.
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has made three changes to the team that lost to England in Marseille 27-10. Second row Guido Petti comes in, Eduardo Bello comes into the front row and Matías Moroni drops into the backline.
This game on Friday could be one of the biggest games of the third round, this is because if Seilala Mapusa side can pick another win in Group D it would mean Michael Cheika’s side will have to win there last two games of the group by some margin.
Samoa on the other hand sit rather comfortably in second place after getting a bonus point win over Chile in Bordeaux on Saturday afternoon.
Like Michael Cheika, the Samoan head coach Mapusa has made three changes to his starting XV after a quick six day turn around. Ben Lam gets his first cap on the wing, Paulo Alo-Emile replaces Leinster forward and squad captain Michael Alaalatoa. With this replacement second row Chris Vui will lead his team, and Brian Alainu’u’ese gets his sixth cap for his country.
The last time these two teams met at a Rugby World Cup was back in 1999 in Llanelli. That day Argentina came out on top winning 32-16. However a lot has changed since then so don’t think for one minute that Samoa won’t put up a fight.
Argentina starting 15:
1- Thomas Gallo
2- Julian Montoya
3- Eduardo Bello
4- Guido Petti
5- Matias Alemanno
6- Pablo Matera
7- Marcos Kreimer
8- Juan Martin Gonzalez
9- Gonzalo Bertranou
10- Santiago Carreras
11- Mateo Carreras
12- Santiago Chocobares
13- Matias Moroni
14- Emiliano Boffelli
15- Juan Cruz Mallia
Samoa Starting 15
1- James Lay
2- Seilala Lam
3- Paul Alo-Emile
4- Brian Alainu’u’ese
5- Chris Vui
6- Theo McFarland
7- Fritz Lee
8- Steven Luatua
9- Jonathan Taumateine
10- Christian Leali’ifano
11- Ben Lam
12- Tumua Manu
13- Ulupano Junior Seuteni
14- Nigel Ah-Wong
15- Duncan Paia’aua
Written By Harry Tovey.
HTSPORTSNEWS 